HHCA defensive back Williams chooses Wofford

The last week was a big one for Hilton Head Christian cornerback Jamario Williams.

On Saturday, the senior represented the Eagles in the SCISAA Shrine Bowl, where he was targeted only once and came away with a pass breakup. The weekend before that, he helped lead Hilton Head Christian to its second consecutive state championship with a thrilling win over rival Thomas Heyward.

But the 6-foot-1 defender saved the best for last, as the Eagles standout set his college plans with a verbal commitment to the Wofford Terriors last Wednesday.

"It's a great opportunity because I know they're going to push me and work me hard," Williams said. "It's a great program with great coaches and they love to win. That's what I like to do also."

Williams sat down with his father, Steven Williams, following the Shrine Bowl to discuss his college plans and then made his decision known to Terriors cornerbacks coach ShaDon Wood.

"He was happy," Williams said. "He was glad I finally made the decision because they were highly recruiting me and wanted me bad."

Williams said the Terriors plan to shift him to safety due to his size, something the defender is on board with, he said.

"They think I'll be a better threat because I'm a nice, tall person," he said. " ... I think it'll be better for me because I can come downhill faster and make tackles."

Williams -- who finished his senior season with 36 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups -- said the opportunity to play some on offense in the Terriors' triple-option scheme is still a possibility.

He was a two-way star once again this year for the Eagles, as he tallied 671 receiving yards on 27 catches to go along with eight touchdowns.

"They also said that ... because I can play receiver that they would put me in for special plays to make big plays for them on offense," he said.

Williams chose the Terriors over Arizona, Hampton (Va.) and Newberry. The chance to play in an FBS conference like the Pac-12 caught the corner's eye, but the inability for his family to watch him play in Arizona turned him off to the Wildcats and coach Rich Rodriguez.

"It's a big, Pac-12 school, but I had to look at distance from my family and how they would get to see me play," he said. "It was just too far away from home."

He'll now play his Saturdays in Spartanburg for the Terriors and veteran coach Mike Ayers. Wofford is 8-3 this season in the Southern Conference and will host New Hampshire this weekend in the second round of the FCS playoffs. The Terriors battled South Carolina to a 7-7 stalement into the fourth quarter, eventually losing xx-xx, on the same day Williams' Eagles knocked off Thomas Heyward.

"When I went up there for camp they just made me feel like family," Williams said. "I decided that was the place for me to be."

Count Eagles coach Tommy Lewis among those who think Wofford is the place for Williams, too.

"He was happy," Williams said. "I think he knew from the start that was where I was going to go because of how strong they were on me. They kept calling and talking to me and they treated me like family."